History Main / CharacterRerailment

* [[{{X-Men}} Gambit]] started off as a RuleOfCool-based, EstrogenBrigadeBait ManipulativeBastard HandsomeLech [[DeathDealer DeathDealing]] BadassLongcoat who relished the challenge of [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean getting his hands]] on the ForbiddenFruit Rogue. Then, Rogue left him to die in Antarctica. After this, the result was a lot of {{Wangst}} on Gambit's part, whose characterization was changed from the previously-described version to a [[{{Wangst}} Self-loathing]] [[TheAtoner Atoner]] desperate to ''punish himself'' for his ''morally blameless'' role in the Morlock Massacre. Pile on the Catholic Guilt in order to make him hate himself for something that isn't his fault! Oh, and his relationship with Rogue was {{Retcon}}ned into "I'm dating you to punish myself." [[SarcasmMode How romantic]]. Naturally, the [[MostFanficWritersAreGirls fanfic writers]], ''especially'' [[SlashFic the slash fic writers]], absolutely lapped this up. Cue {{Ukefication}} beyond belief, either via HurtComfortFic or having someone else (usually {{Wolverine}}) [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean become Gambit's punisher]]. Regardless, it seems that (thankfully) Marvel are attempting to return Gambit to his former glory. [[Film/{{X-Men}} ''X Men Origins: Wolverine'']] showed Gambit as competent, charming, handsome and relatively low-angst [[TheGambler card-shark]] that won a CoolPlane in a poker game, and ''WolverineAndTheXMen'' had Gambit as a mercenary, ruthless, charming, manipulative thief for hire (albeit in only two episodes). Whether or not this trend will continue is currently unknown.
** Rather than RuleOfCool-based, EstrogenBrigadeBait ManipulativeBastard HandsomeLech {{Death Deal|er}}ing BadassLongcoat, wouldn't it be quicker to say GaryStu?
*** Maybe if Gambit were Wolverine. But Gambit is frequently portrayed negatively, as a dishonorable self-centered JerkAss. If he's a GaryStu he's a pretty poor one.
*** ''All'' the X-Men are attractive except when it's a plot point for them to not be, wind up more in CuteMonsterGirl or -Boy territory instead of actual ugliness even when it ''is,'' dress awesomely (for the most part; costume {{Dork Age}}s do exist), do morally gray things when necessary, do them when they really ''shouldn't'' have on rare (when not in a DorkAge) occasion, give ''every'' science the finger with their powers, and do {{Badass}} things. He's not a Stu because ''compared to the rest of his universe'' he's perfectly normal.

*** ''All'' the X-Men are attractive except when it's a plot point for them to not be, dress awesomely (for the most part; costume {{Dork Age}}s do exist), do morally gray things when necessary, do them when they really ''shouldn't'' have on rare (when not in a DorkAge) occasion, give ''every'' science the finger with their powers, and do {{Badass}} things. He's not a Stu because ''compared to the rest of his universe'' he's perfectly normal.

* [[{{X-Men}} Gambit]] started off as a RuleOfCool-based, EstrogenBrigadeBait ManipulativeBastard HandsomeLech [[DeathDealer DeathDealing]] BadassLongcoat who relished the challenge of [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean getting his hands]] on the ForbiddenFruit Rogue. Then, Rogue left him to die in Antarctica. After this, the result was a lot of {{Wangst}} on Gambit's part, whose characterization was changed from the previously-described version to a [[{{Wangst}} Self-loathing]] [[TheAtoner Atoner]] desperate to ''punish himself'' for his ''morally blameless'' role in the Morlock Massacre. Pile on the Catholic Guilt in order to make him hate himself for something that isn't his fault! Oh, and his relationship with Rogue was {{Retcon}}ned into "I'm dating you to punish myself." [[SarcasmMode How Romantic]]. Naturally, the [[MostFanficWritersAreGirls fanfic writers]], ''especially'' [[SlashFic the slash fic writers]], absolutely lapped this up. Cue {{Ukefication}} beyond belief, either via HurtComfortFic or having someone else (usually {{Wolverine}}) [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean become Gambit's punisher]]. Regardless, it seems that (thankfully) Marvel are attempting to return Gambit to his former glory. [[Film/{{X-Men}} ''X Men Origins: Wolverine'']] showed Gambit as competent, charming, handsome and relatively low-angst [[TheGambler card-shark]] that won a CoolPlane in a poker game, and ''WolverineAndTheXMen'' had Gambit as a mercenary, ruthless, charming, manipulative thief for hire (albeit in only two episodes). Whether or not this trend will continue is currently unknown.

** It's a twisted version. It could be CharacterDerailment in the East, where Sonic was always portrayed with his Adventure personality (or one similar to it).

* The main aim of most [[FixFic fixfics]]. As for whether work or are needed, [[SturgeonsLaw well]] [[YourMilageMayVary ...]]

[[AC: Manga and Anime]]

** Rather than RuleOfCool-based, EstrogenBrigadeBait ManipulativeBastard HandsomeLech [[DeathDealer DeathDealing]] BadassLongcoat, wouldn't it be quicker to say GaryStu?

* Axel from ''KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories'' underwent massive characterization changes and BadassDecay in ''KingdomHeartsII''. ''KingdomHearts358DaysOver2'', set between the two games, attempts to explain how this happened. YourMileageMayVary (as with most things regarding [[BaseBreaker Axel]] whether or not this was successful.

* Sonic in ''SonicColors''. After a few years of being portrayed in the games as something of a goody-goody, teamwork-obsessed {{invincible hero}}, he's back to being a snarky MascotWithAttitude that he was supposed to be from the start.

* ''FamilyGuy'' horribly subverted this trope with Stewie: [[spoiler: in the season 9 premiere, he killed a character for first time in years and revealed that he still wanted to kill Lois. Fans cheered upon seeing this, thinking that the old Stewie was back. Three episodes later, it was shown that Stewie wasn't going back to his old self, much to the fans' disappointment.]]

* In ''DonkeyKongCountryReturns,'' Cranky Kong is cranky again.

*** Maybe if Gambit were Wolverine. But Gambit is frequently portrayed negatively, as a dishonorable unheroic JerkAss.

*** Maybe if Gambit were Wolverine. But Gambit is frequently portrayed negatively, as a dishonorable unheroic [[JerkAss]].

* Hal Jordan of the {{Green Lantern}}s went through this after he [[FaceHeelTurn went insane]] and killed most of the other Lanterns. It was eventually revealed that he'd been possessed by Parallax, the embodiment of fear, and though at the time this seemed like an AssPull both Parallax and the Yellow Lanterns have gone on to become an integral part of the Green Lantern mythos.

** {{Nightwing}} underwent a similar process after Devin Grayson's disastrous run on the series (which among other things [[RapeIsOkWhenItIsFemaleOnMale had Nighwing raped]] by a clear author-stand in and went on to say that [[PersonalDictionary it hadn't been rape, just nonconsensual]]) that also had him join Deathstroke as Renegade. Justifiably, the ResetButton on that one was pounded so hard it ''cracked''.

* [[{{X-Men}} Gambit]] started off as a RuleOfCool-based, EstrogenBrigadeBait ManipulativeBastard HandsomeLech [[DeathDealer DeathDealing]] BadassLongcoat who relished the challenge of [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean getting his hands]] on the ForbiddenFruit Rogue. Then, Rogue left him to die in Antarctica. After this, the result was a lot of {{Wangst}} on Gambit's part, whose characterization was changed from the previously-described version to a [[{{Wangst}} Self-loathing]] [[TheAtoner Atoner]] desperate to ''punish himself'' for his ''morally blameless'' role in the Morlock Massacre. Pile on the Catholic Guilt in order to make him hate himself for something that isn't his fault! Oh, and his relationship with Rogue was {{Retcon}}ned into "I'm dating you to punish myself." [[SarcasmMode How Romantic]]. Naturally, the [[MostFanficWritersAreGirls fanfic writers]], ''especially'' [[SlashFic the slash fic writers]], absolutely lapped this up. Cue {{Ukefication}} beyond belief, either via HurtComfortFic or having someone else (usually {{Wolverine}}) [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean become Gambit's punisher]]. Regardless, it seems that (thankfully) Marvel are attempting to return Gambit to his former glory. [[Film/{{X-Men}} ''X Men Origins: Wolverine'']] showed Gambit as competent, charming, handsome and relatively low-angst [[TheGambler card-shark]] that won a CoolPlane in a poker game, and ''WolverineAndTheXMen'' had Gambit as a mercenary, ruthless, charming, manipulative thief for hire (albiet in only two episodes). Whether or not this trend will continue is currently unknown.

** Nightwing underwent a similar process after Devin Grayson's disastrous run on the series (which among other things [[RapeIsOkWhenItIsFemaleOnMale had Nighwing raped]] by a clear author-stand in and went on to say that [[PersonalDictionary it hadn't been rape, just nonconsensual]]) that also had him join Deathstroke as Renegade. Justifiably, the ResetButton on that one was pounded so hard it ''cracked''.

* The Cybermen from DoctorWho were originally emotionless and monotone species of cyborgs. From Earthshock onwards they tured into generic and Narm-y gun carrying evildoers. This was finally fixed in the New Series and BigFinish audio stories.